1st Air Cavalry Brigade Conducts Personnel Recovery Training with British Royal Air Force in Romania

By Capt. Taylor CriswellJuly 13, 2022

1st Air Cavalry Brigade Conducts Personnel Recovery Training with British Royal Air Force in Romania
1 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania-- Airmen with the U.K. 140th Expeditionary Air Wing load a UH-60 Black Hawk during personnel recovery training with 3-227 AHB, July 12, 2022.

Regular interoperability training with NATO partners and allies builds trust and readiness, increasing the capacity for deterrence and defense. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Taylor Criswell) (Photo Credit: Capt. Taylor Criswell)
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1st Air Cavalry Brigade Conducts Personnel Recovery Training with British Royal Air Force in Romania
2 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania-- UH-60 Black Hawks assigned to 3-227 AHB flies overhead during personnel recovery training with the U.K. 140th Expeditionary Air Wing, July 12, 2022.

Regular interoperability training with NATO partners and allies builds trust and readiness, increasing the capacity for deterrence and defense. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Taylor Criswell) (Photo Credit: Capt. Taylor Criswell)
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1st Air Cavalry Brigade Conducts Personnel Recovery Training with British Royal Air Force in Romania
3 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania-- A UH-60M Black Hawk assigned to 3-227 AHB flies near notionally isolated U.S. Soldiers during personnel recovery training with the U.K. 140th Expeditionary Air Wing, July 12, 2022.

Regular interoperability training with NATO partners and allies builds trust and readiness, increasing the capacity for deterrence and defense. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Taylor Criswell) (Photo Credit: Capt. Taylor Criswell)
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1st Air Cavalry Brigade Conducts Personnel Recovery Training with British Royal Air Force in Romania
4 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania-- An Airman with the U.K. 140th Expeditionary Air Wing provides area security during personnel recovery training with 3-227 AHB, July 12, 2022.

Regular interoperability training with NATO partners and allies builds trust and readiness, increasing the capacity for deterrence and defense. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Taylor Criswell) (Photo Credit: Capt. Taylor Criswell)
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1st Air Cavalry Brigade Conducts Personnel Recovery Training with British Royal Air Force in Romania
5 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania-- An Airman with the U.K. 140th Expeditionary Air Wing provides area security during personnel recovery training with 3-227 AHB, July 12, 2022.

Regular interoperability training with NATO partners and allies builds trust and readiness, increasing the capacity for deterrence and defense. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Taylor Criswell) (Photo Credit: Capt. Taylor Criswell)
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1st Air Cavalry Brigade Conducts Personnel Recovery Training with British Royal Air Force in Romania
6 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania-- UH-60 Black Hawks assigned to 3-227 AHB fly overhead during personnel recovery training with the U.K. 140th Expeditionary Air Wing, July 12, 2022.

Regular interoperability training with NATO partners and allies builds trust and readiness, increasing the capacity for deterrence and defense. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Taylor Criswell) (Photo Credit: Capt. Taylor Criswell)
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1st Air Cavalry Brigade Conducts Personnel Recovery Training with British Royal Air Force in Romania
7 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania-- An Airman with the U.K. 140th Expeditionary Air Wing patrols during personnel recovery training with 3-227 AHB, July 12, 2022.

Regular interoperability training with NATO partners and allies builds trust and readiness, increasing the capacity for deterrence and defense. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Taylor Criswell) (Photo Credit: Capt. Taylor Criswell)
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1st Air Cavalry Brigade Conducts Personnel Recovery Training with British Royal Air Force in Romania
8 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania-- Airmen assigned to the U.K. 140th Expeditionary Air Wing load a UH-60 Black Hawk during personnel recovery training with 3-227 AHB, July 12, 2022.

Regular interoperability training with NATO partners and allies builds trust and readiness, increasing the capacity for deterrence and defense. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Taylor Criswell) (Photo Credit: Capt. Taylor Criswell)
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BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania- Personnel Recovery (PR) training stresses the preparation of Soldiers to prevent becoming isolated and to know how to respond to an isolating event.

Yesterday the 3-227 Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, executed a PR exercise with U.K. service members assigned to the 140th Expeditionary Air Wing and the RAF Regiment, the infantry component of the Royal Air Force.

“This training was a joint exercise with our British partners that primarily focused on the recovery of downed aircrews behind enemy lines,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Brian Caslin, standardization pilot with 3-227 AHB. “We held a similar joint mission with the Italians in January this year.”

1st Air Cavalry Brigade Conducts Personnel Recovery Training with British Royal Air Force in Romania
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania--Airmen with the U.K. 140th Expeditionary Air Wing patrol during personnel recovery training with 3-227 AHB, July 12, 2022.

Regular interoperability training with NATO partners and allies builds trust and readiness, increasing the capacity for deterrence and defense. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Taylor Criswell) (Photo Credit: Capt. Taylor Criswell)
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1st Air Cavalry Brigade Conducts Personnel Recovery Training with British Royal Air Force in Romania
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania-- An Airman with the U.K. 140th Expeditionary Air Wing provides area security during personnel recovery training with 3-227 AHB, July 12, 2022.

Regular interoperability training with NATO partners and allies builds trust and readiness, increasing the capacity for deterrence and defense. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Taylor Criswell) (Photo Credit: Capt. Taylor Criswell)
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The training event started with a notionally downed U.S. helicopter and crew in an enemy contested area. The crewmembers' mission was to evade enemy contact to prevent or reduce any strategic advantage an enemy could gain by taking them hostage.

As the U.S. Soldiers moved to the pickup zone, they used combat survivor evader locator (CSEL) radios to communicate with two U.K Typhoon FGR.Mk 4 fighter jets overhead providing security and assistance in the detection of the isolated personnel. At the same time, they were also radioing their British counterparts on the ground performing as the recovery team.

1st Air Cavalry Brigade Conducts Personnel Recovery Training with British Royal Air Force in Romania
BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania-- A Typhoon FGR.Mk4 fighter jet assigned to the U.K. 140th Expeditionary Air Wing soars over the pickup zone during personnel recovery training with 3-227 AHB, July 12, 2022.

Regular interoperability training with NATO partners and allies builds trust and readiness, increasing the capacity for deterrence and defense. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Taylor Criswell) (Photo Credit: Capt. Taylor Criswell)
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“This training gave us the opportunity to work alongside our allies to build interoperability and test a relatively new skill set for our unit,” explained Capt. Paul Calvert, ground liaison officer with the fighter squadron and 140 Expeditionary Air Wing. “The proximity of international forces at MK is the perfect scenario for joint exercises such as this one today. The realistic training we do together makes NATO stronger and more ready.”

1st Air Cavalry Brigade Conducts Personnel Recovery Training with British Royal Air Force in Romania
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania-- An Airman assigned to the U.K. 140th Expeditionary Air Wing observes and communicates via radio during personnel recovery training with 3-227 AHB, July 12, 2022.

Regular interoperability training with NATO partners and allies builds trust and readiness, increasing the capacity for deterrence and defense. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Taylor Criswell) (Photo Credit: Capt. Taylor Criswell)
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1st Air Cavalry Brigade Conducts Personnel Recovery Training with British Royal Air Force in Romania
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania-- An Airman with the U.K. 140th Expeditionary Air Wing moves towards the pickup zone during personnel recovery training with 3-227 AHB, July 12, 2022.

Regular interoperability training with NATO partners and allies builds trust and readiness, increasing the capacity for deterrence and defense. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Taylor Criswell) (Photo Credit: Capt. Taylor Criswell)
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1st Air Cavalry Brigade Conducts Personnel Recovery Training with British Royal Air Force in Romania
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania-- An Airman assigned to the U.K. 140th Expeditionary Air Wing patrols with his team during personnel recovery training with 3-227 AHB, July 12, 2022.

Regular interoperability training with NATO partners and allies builds trust and readiness, increasing the capacity for deterrence and defense. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Taylor Criswell) (Photo Credit: Capt. Taylor Criswell)
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Once U.S. Soldiers reached a hide site near the pickup zone, they used the time waiting for their U.K. counterparts for hands-on training with personal survival equipment components of the Aviation Life Support Equipment (ALSE) that each flight crew member is assigned.

1st Air Cavalry Brigade Conducts Personnel Recovery Training with British Royal Air Force in Romania
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania-- Sgt. Gamez of 3-227 AHB gives instruction and refresher training on aviation life support equipment (ALSE) during personnel recovery training with the U.K. 140th Expeditionary Air Wing, July 12, 2022.

Regular interoperability training with NATO partners and allies builds trust and readiness, increasing the capacity for deterrence and defense. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Taylor Criswell) (Photo Credit: Capt. Taylor Criswell)
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1st Air Cavalry Brigade Conducts Personnel Recovery Training with British Royal Air Force in Romania
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania-- Spc. Williams of 3-227 AHB lights a firestarter during a hands-on demonstration of aviation life support equipment (ALSE) during personnel recovery training with the U.K. 140th Expeditionary Air Wing, July 12, 2022.

Regular interoperability training with NATO partners and allies builds trust and readiness, increasing the capacity for deterrence and defense. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Taylor Criswell) (Photo Credit: Capt. Taylor Criswell)
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When U.K. forces arrived, they immediately established security around the hide site and searched each isolated U.S. Soldier to identify injuries and clear them as a friendly force.

1st Combat Aviation Brigade transfers authority to 1st Air Cavalry Brigade
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania-- Airmen with the U.K. 140th Expeditionary Air Wing patrol towards nationally isolated U.S. Soldiers during personnel recovery training with 3-227 AHB, July 12, 2022.

Regular interoperability training with NATO partners and allies builds trust and readiness, increasing the capacity for deterrence and defense. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Taylor Criswell) (Photo Credit: Capt. Taylor Criswell)
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1st Air Cavalry Brigade Conducts Personnel Recovery Training with British Royal Air Force in Romania
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania-- An Airman assigned to the U.K. 140th Expeditionary Air Wing conducts area security during personnel recovery training with 3-227 AHB, July 12, 2022.

Regular interoperability training with NATO partners and allies builds trust and readiness, increasing the capacity for deterrence and defense. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Taylor Criswell) (Photo Credit: Capt. Taylor Criswell)
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1st Air Cavalry Brigade Conducts Personnel Recovery Training with British Royal Air Force in Romania
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania-- Airmen assigned to the U.K. 140th Expeditionary Air Wing conduct area security during personnel recovery training with 3-227 AHB, July 12, 2022.

Regular interoperability training with NATO partners and allies builds trust and readiness, increasing the capacity for deterrence and defense. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Taylor Criswell) (Photo Credit: Capt. Taylor Criswell)
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1st Air Cavalry Brigade Conducts Personnel Recovery Training with British Royal Air Force in Romania
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania-- Airmen assigned to the U.K. 140th Expeditionary Air Wing guard and prepare to search and clear notionally isolated U.S. Soldiers during personnel recovery training with 3-227 AHB, July 12, 2022.

Regular interoperability training with NATO partners and allies builds trust and readiness, increasing the capacity for deterrence and defense. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Taylor Criswell) (Photo Credit: Capt. Taylor Criswell)
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U.K. Airmen then provided tactical field care based on the notional injuries marked on each U.S. Soldier’s combat casualty card. Once treated, they moved with U.S. Soldiers to the pickup zone to be recovered by UH-60 Black Hawks and eventually reintegrated with their unit.

1st Air Cavalry Brigade Conducts Personnel Recovery Training with British Royal Air Force in Romania
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania-- An Airman with the U.K. 140th Expeditionary Air Wing searches a notionally isolated U.S. Soldier during personnel recovery training with the 3-22t AHB, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, July 12, 2022.

Regular interoperability training with NATO partners and allies builds trust and readiness, increasing the capacity for deterrence and defense. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Taylor Criswell) (Photo Credit: Capt. Taylor Criswell)
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1st Air Cavalry Brigade Conducts Personnel Recovery Training with British Royal Air Force in Romania
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania-- Airmen with the U.K. 140th Expeditionary Air Wing load a UH-60M Black Hawk during personnel recovery training with 3-227 AHB, July 12, 2022.

Regular interoperability training with NATO partners and allies builds trust and readiness, increasing the capacity for deterrence and defense. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Taylor Criswell) (Photo Credit: Capt. Taylor Criswell)
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During the final iteration, an HH-60 MEDEVAC helicopter from C Co, 2-227 General Support Aviation Battalion was used to hoist “injured” personnel, demonstrating the rescue capabilities of the aircraft and crew.

1st Air Cavalry Brigade Conducts Personnel Recovery Training with British Royal Air Force in Romania
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania-- An HH-60 MEDEVAC helicopter assigned to C Co, 2-227 GSAB flies overhead during personnel recovery training with the U.K. 140th Expeditionary Air Wing, July 12, 2022.

Regular interoperability training with NATO partners and allies builds trust and readiness, increasing the capacity for deterrence and defense. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Taylor Criswell) (Photo Credit: Capt. Taylor Criswell)
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1st Air Cavalry Brigade Conducts Personnel Recovery Training with British Royal Air Force in Romania
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania-- A MEDEVAC helicopter and crew assigned to C Co, 2-227 GSAB hoist a simulated casualty during personnel recovery training with the U.K. 140th Expeditionary Air Wing, July 12, 2022.

Regular interoperability training with NATO partners and allies builds trust and readiness, increasing the capacity for deterrence and defense. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Taylor Criswell) (Photo Credit: Capt. Taylor Criswell)
VIEW ORIGINAL
1st Air Cavalry Brigade Conducts Personnel Recovery Training with British Royal Air Force in Romania
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania-- A MEDEVAC helicopter and crew assigned to C Co, 2-227 GSAB prepare to hoist a simulated casualty during personnel recovery training with the U.K. 140th Expeditionary Air Wing, July 12, 2022.

Regular interoperability training with NATO partners and allies builds trust and readiness, increasing the capacity for deterrence and defense. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Taylor Criswell) (Photo Credit: Capt. Taylor Criswell)
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1st Air Cavalry Brigade Conducts Personnel Recovery Training with British Royal Air Force in Romania
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania-- A MEDEVAC crew member assisgned to C Co, 2-227 GSAB secures a simulated casualty for MEDEVAC hoist during personnel recovery training with the U.K. 140th Expeditionary Air Wing, July 12, 2022.

Regular interoperability training with NATO partners and allies builds trust and readiness, increasing the capacity for deterrence and defense. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Taylor Criswell) (Photo Credit: Capt. Taylor Criswell)
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The training event covered several critical Soldier skills such as land navigation, radio communications, combat life saving techniques, and reaction to contact. Beyond the tactical training on the ground, it also evaluated and validated the tactics, techniques and procedures of the battalion staff to track and assist recovery efforts.

PR training is an annual requirement for Army aviation units to mitigate risk incurred through mission assignment or occupation.

1st Air Cavalry Brigade is on rotation to Europe as part of Atlantic Resolve.

The deployment of ready, combat-credible U.S. forces to Europe in support of Atlantic Resolve is evidence of the unbreakable U.S. commitment to NATO and Europe. Through bilateral, joint and multinational training, Atlantic Resolve builds readiness, increases interoperability and enhances the bond between ally and partner militaries.

The 1st Air Cavalry Brigade will be replaced later this year by the 1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade from Fort Bliss, Texas.

For more information about Atlantic Resolve, visit https://www.EuropeAfrica.army.mil/AtlanticResolve.